Lombardia

Question 1

Location in Italy, and what is N,S,E,W

Answer 1

Central part of N Italy. Switzerland to N , Emilia-Romagna to S Piemonte to W Trentino-Aldo Adige and Veneto on E

Question 2

Topography ( four sectors, N to S)

Answer 2

The Alps - Valtellina The Prealps - Franciacorta, Brescia, Bergano, Lake Garda The Padana Plain - flat,fertile The Apeninnes Foothills - SW corner, Oltrepó Pavese

Question 3

Rivers and Lakes

Answer 3

Largest number of lakes Most rivers flow S to the Po on Southern border

Question 4

Climate, 3 zones

Answer 4

Continental Altitudes and Lakes moderating factors Alpine Zone (N) : high altitudes Lake Zone (N-central) : pre-alps, lakes moderate Padana Plain Zone (S-central) : severe winters/summers, more S foothills moderate some

Question 5

Rainfall

Answer 5

Alps,Pre-alps : 1400mm / yr Padana plain: 600-800mm /yr Most precipitation in spring and autumn, winter is driest

Question 6

Seasons

Answer 6

Spring: Mild, abundant rain Summer: warm-hot, moderators are elev. and lakes Autumns: mild, abundant rain Winters: cold, especially in alpine and plane, lakes moderate

Question 7

Grape Varieties - general

Answer 7

limited range of native varieties due to phylloxera dominated by international varieties particularly Franciacorta, Oltrepó Pavese

Question 8

Grape Varieties - Turbiana !

Answer 8

White aka. Trebbiano di Lugana principal variety of Lugana DOC genetically adjacent to Verdiccihio/Trebbiano di Soave perfumed, rich, medium to full body wines high acidity affinity for oak long aging potential white flowers, citrus, apples, stone fruits

Question 9

Grape Varieties - Croatina !

Answer 9

Black native to Lombardia Mose widely planted in region (red or white) favorite of Oltrepó Pavese, aka Bonarda deep color fresh juicy red fruit, spicy notes fleshy and soft, tannic bite

Question 10

Grape Varieties - Barbera !

Answer 10

Black used to produce single variety wines and blends often with Croatina

Question 11

Grape Varieties - Nebbiolo !

Answer 11

Black principal Valtellina - only area outside Piemonte to really produce aka Chiavannasca

Question 12

Grape Varieties - Groppello !

Answer 12

refers to a group of varieties Groppello Gentile is the major around Lake Garda Used for rosato bright, floral, red fruits, spice

Question 13

Grape Varieties - Uva Rara

Answer 13

“rare grape” Oltrepó Pavese blends with Croatina and Barbera to add aroma of re fruit and spice

Question 14

Grape Varieties - Ughetta (Vespolina)

Answer 14

native to Piemonte aka Vespolina grown in Oltepó Pavese for blending with Croatina, and Barbera

Question 15

Grape Varieties - Lambrusco

Answer 15

reefers to a group SE corner of Lombardia Lambrusco Mantovano DOC Lambrusco Viadanese is most common

Question 16

Grape Varieties - Chardonnay !

Answer 16

third most planted 10% of production mostly Franciacorta for sparkling

Question 17

Grape Varieties - Pinot Nero !

Answer 17

second most planted 13% production Mostly in Oltrepó Pavese for trad. method sparkling and still

Question 18

Valtellina

Answer 18

Most N growing region in Italy N of Adda river Terraced planting, south facing to ripen 700-800m altitude ‘heroic’ wine making - v high labor

Question 19

Valtellina - Soil

Answer 19

mountain erosion and glacial deposit granitic sands, broken schist, alluvial material shallow and poor poor water retention rocks retain heat and radiate back to vines

Question 20

Sforzato ( or Sfursat) di Valtellina DOCG !

Answer 20

‘pinnacle’ of Valtellina air-dried grapes, apassimento process 3-4 months drying min. alc. 14% min. 20 mn aging, min 12mn in oak intense, complex, dried fruit, spice, tobacco

Question 21

Valtellina di Superiore DOCG !

Answer 21

min. 90% chiavannesca, most 100% 2 yr aging, 1yr oak Riserva - min. 3yr aging pale color dried rose, red fruit, leather, spice finesse vs. power compared to Barolo

Question 22

Valtellina di Superiore DOCG - sub zones

Answer 22

Valgella - largest, most E Inferno - ‘hell’, hotter and steeper,greatest aging potential Grumello - fragrant, ageable like inferno Sassella - well- known, elegant Maroggia - most recent (2002), smallest, velvety, firm tannin

Question 23

Franciacorta DOCG !

Answer 23

Historical refernce to 1570 for sparkling production

Modern history is 1950s, first release 1961 ‘ Pinot de Franciacorta’

DOC in 1967, DOCG in 1995

Question 24

Fanciacorta aging and styles

Answer 24

NV - 18 months on lees

Vintage - (millesimato) 30 months on lees

Riserva - 60 months on lees

Satén - all chardonnay, <5atm pressure, 24 months on lees

Rosé - min. 35% pinor nero, 24 months on lees

* warm growing conditions allow riper grapes, zero dosage successfull and common

Question 25

Moscato di Scanzo (or Scanzo) DOCG !

Answer 25

smallest DOCG in Italy

passito wine

local black grape, Moscato di Scanzo

Question 26

Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG !

Answer 26

DOCG 2007

min. 70% Pinot Nero
max. 30% Chardonnay/Pinot Bianco/Pinot Grigio

85% can say ‘Pinot Nero’

NV - 15 months lees

vintage (millesimato) - 24 months

special rosé - Cruasé - collective brand name

Question 27

Bonarda dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC !

Answer 27

DOC covers whole region

min. 85% Coatina (Bonarda)
max. 15% Barbera, uva rara, ughetta

used to be off-dry

some produced as vivace(lively) or frinzzante

Question 28

Buttafouco

or

Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC

Answer 28

N. part of region

25-65% Croatina and Barbera

max. 45% uva rara

dry, red

Question 29

Lugana DOC

Answer 29

S. side of Lake Garda

crosses into Veneto

distinctive white

90% Turbiana (trebbiano di lugana)

Structure well enough for barrel and lees stirring

Lugana - ~ 3 months after harvest

Lugana Superiore - aged min. 12 months

Lugana Risera - aged min. 24 months

Question 30

Riveria del Garda Classico DOCG !

Answer 30

W. and S. sides og Lake Garda

Rosso and Rosé (chiaretto ) !

Mostly Groppello